Rack for dyeing stockings



5 A. E. WILLIAMS ETAL 2,701,460

RACK FOR DYEING STOCKINGS Filed June 19 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l /NVENTOR s /9 ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1955 A. E. WILLIAMS ET AL 2,701,460

RACK FOR DYEING STOCKINGS Filed June 19, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States PateiitfOfiice 2,701,460 Patented Feb. 8, 1955 RACK FOR DYEING STOCKINGS Alan Ernest Williams, Granby, Quebec, and Joseph Arthur Leger, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada Application June 19, 1950, Serial No. 168,874

3 Claims. (Cl. 68-157) The invention relates to improvements in an apparatus for dyeing textile materials as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially of the novel features of construction as pointed out broadly and specifically in the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of acceptable forms of the invention.

The objects of the invention are to devise a'means of dyeing textile materials in which the same may have a number of different colors or shades dyed thereon and each being separate and distinct from one another thus creating a multi-colored pattern effect on the material; to contrive a means of thoroughly penetrating the textile material throughout its entire thickness by each of a number of colors or shades as arranged in their particular pattern; to achieve the faithful reproduction of intricate and detailed designs in textile materials and to accurately control relative positions of the integral parts of such designs on the materials resulting in clearness and sharpness of outline of the aforesaid designs; to furnish an apparatus whereby standards of uniformity and fastness of color or shades may be achieved and where" the same may be useful commercially; to maintain the preservation of the various physical properties or qualities of the material being treated during the dyeing of the same in two or more colors or shades; and generally to provide an apparatus adaptable for efliciently dyeing textile materials a plurality of shades or colors and in which the latter will be fast, sharp in outline and particularly adaptable for the textile industry.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view of the apparatusin which'the textile materials are repeatedly immersed'during the dyeing thereof and showing the inlets and drain connections to the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a side view showing the opposite side of the apparatus to that illustrated in Figure 1 and illustrating the motor for operating the device, as well as the means for introducing the dye into the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figures l and 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail showing a side view of one of the racks which securely hold a plurality of textile materials in position during the immersing or dipping of the same in the dye solution.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed transverse sectional view showing a portion of the rack and its textile holder assembled therein as taken on line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detailed longitudnal view through a portion of one of the racks adapted to hold the materials to be dyed.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing one of the bottom pattern plates used in the apparatus.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the intermediate pattern plates in which the blocking off patterns are shown on each side of the plate.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the top pattern plates used in the apparatus.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a portion of one of the racks of the apparatus which has been removed therefrom and placed in a jig to facilitate the assembly of the pattern plate and textile material thereon.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing a modification in which the pattern contacts the inner surfaces of the material to be dyed rather than the outer surfaces as illustrated in the foregoing.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to the drawings, the invention as hereinafter described relates to an apparatus used in the dyeing of textile materials and the same is particularly adaptable for multi-dyeing of materials in which certain portions thereof are blocked off during each dyeing operation. In this respect it will be seen that the principal features of the invention are to devise a means of depicting dyed designs on textile materials in which the colors will be clear, sharp in outline, and fast in color.

In this instance the apparatus used for dyeing textile materials consists of a tank as indicated by the numeral 15 which is closed at the bottom and sides and open at the top thereof. A rack holder 16 is pivotally mounted on the sides of the tank 15 at the top thereof by means of a shaft 17 which is rotatably supported in a mounting 18, the latter being fixedly secured to the upper edges of the tank 15.

The rack holder 16 is somewhat in the form of a wheel having a hub 19 and spokes 20 extending outward therefrom to support a rim 21. The rim is in the shape of an equal-sided polyhedron, and each of the fiat surfaces formed by the sides of the polyhedron are adapted to mount a rack 22 in which the textile materials are substantially pressed and held in position. A motor 23 is suitably located with respect to the tank 15 and is connected to a speed reducer 24 which in turn is connected to a sheave 25 which is fixedly secured to the shaft 17 of the rack holder. The motor 23 through the speed reducer 24 is adapted to rotate the rack holder 16 at approximately four and one-half revolutions per minute thereby permitting each of the racks 22 with the textile materials held therein to be slowly immersed and circulated through the dye solution within the tank 15. A hopper 26 is supported above the tank 15 at one side thereof and has piping 27 connected thereto and leading into the tank, and a valve 28 is provided in this piping 27. The hopper 26 provides a means of introducing the dye solution into the tank 15 and the steam pipe 29 which is located at the opposite side of the tank permits the introduction of steam into this dye solution within the tank. The steam pipe 29 is provided with a valve 30.

An'inlet pipe 31 and a drain pipe 31a is also connected to the tank to permit the filling and emptying of the same. This drain pipe 31a has a valve 32 and the inlet pipe 31 has a valve 32a, only one or the other of these valves being open at one time. In filling the tank, the valve 7 32a on the inlet pipe 31 is open and upon the draining of the dye solutions from within the tank the valve 32a in the inlet pipe 31 is closed and the valve 32 upon the drain pipe 31a is opened.

A plurality of racks 22 are detachably secured to the periphery of the rim 21 of the rack holder 16, and each of these racks are adapted to securely hold a plurality of textile articles substantially in a pressed position therein. Each of these racks consists of a top and bottom pressure plate 33 and 34, respectively, and the same are formed of any suitable strong material. Tie rods 35 are located at each corner of the pressure plates and extend therethrough providing a means of drawing one pressure plate inward towards the other. A plurality of pattern plates 36 are assembled between the top and bottom pressure plates 33 and 34 and the same are held in alignment with one another by the tie rods 35 extending through two corners thereof. The pattern plates 36 consist of the outside plates which are top plate 37 and bottom plate 38, and double intermediate plates 39. The

.top and bottom plates 37 and 38 each have a pattern 40 on one face thereof and the double intermediate plates each have patterns 40 on both faces thereof. The patterns 40 may be of any suitable configuration and in this instance, are made made from plastic plates of a suitable thickness and cut out to represent the desired configuration. Each of the patterns are substantially secured to the' face of a supporting plate 41 and channels or grooves 42 are provided in the inner face of the pattern adjacent the supporting plate to permit the dye solution to reach all remote parts of the particular'intricate pattern, either in the outline of the same, or therewithin. In this respect, the outer face of each of the patterns is flush throughout the configuration thereof and when this face is placed against the material to be dyed the latter is effectively blocked off, and as the racks supporting the patterns-and material are rotatably mounted with respect to the tank and repeatedly passed through the solution therein it is necessary that the latter be permitted to readily reach all parts of the configuration of the pattern. Another feature of having these channels or grooves 42 in the inner face of the patterns adjacent the supporting plate therefore, is the fact that parts of the material within the outline of the configuration may be also reached by the dye solution thereby facilitating the creation of intricate designs of a different or darker color on materials to that of the configuration.

Each of the top plates 37 consist of a supporting plate 41 which is rectangular in shape and have a projection 43 extending outward from each side thereof and being at the opposite diagonal corners of the plate. A hole 44 extends through each of the projections 43 on the supporting plate 4-1 and are engaged by a pair of tie rods when the top plate 37 is assembled on the rack 22. And extension bar 45 is fixedly secured to the upper face of one of the projections 43 of the supporting plate 41 and extends parallel with the side edge of the supporting plate and projects beyond the end of the plate and a hole 46 extends through the outer portion of the extension bar. The pattern 4i) which, in this instance, is in the configuration of an animal, is fixedly secured to the underside of the supporting plate 41 by means of fiat head screws which extend through the supporting plate from the upper face thereof and are threaded into the pattern 46. However it will be realized that any other means of substantially securing the pattern 40 to the supporting plate 4-1 could be used provided that the outer face of the attern is not broken into and is flush throughout the configuration.

The bottom plate 38 is similar to the top plate 37 with the exception that a pair of side members 47 are secured to the upper face thereof on which the pattern 44) is secured. These side members 47 are cut out to form a projection at each end and a projection in the center thereof and may form a guiding means when. the material is being assembled in the rack 22. The double intermediate plates 39 each consist of a pair of supporting plates 41 similar to the top and bottom plates 37 and 33. A pattern 4b is secured on one side of each of the supporting plates 41 by means of fiat head screws extending through the plate and engaging in the patterns. These supporting plates 41 are placed back to back with the patterns on the outer faces thereof and a pair of side members 47 are secured along the edges of one surface thereof by means of screws 48 which extend through both of the supporting plates 41 and engage in the side members 47 thereby substantially holding the same assembled to one another.

A top and bottom pressure plate 33 and 34 are placed above and below the top plate 37, bottom plate 38, and a plurality of double intermediate plates 39, and these pressure plates serve to secure the top, bottom, and double intermediate plates substantially in a pressed position with respect to one another. These top and bottom pressure plates 33 and 34 have the inner surface thereof flush and a plurality of ribs 51 are formed on the outer side of same. The ribs i. are integral With the pressure plates 33 and 34 and provide a means of reinforcing the latter, and the holes 49 extend through lugs 50 projecting outward from each side of the pressure plates 33 and 34.

A boss 52 is formed in the center portion of each of the pressure plates and the top of the former is flush with the top edges of the ribs 51. The bottom pressure plate 34 has a tapped hole 53 extending into the boss in the center thereof and a stud 54 is threaded into this boss and projects outward therefrom thereby providing a means of fixedly mounting this bottom pressure plate in position on the rack 22. The holes 49 in the lugs 50 on the bottom pressure plate 34 are tapped and permit the tie rods to be threaded thereinto, while the holes 49 in the lugs of the top pressure plates 33 are simply clearance holes through which the tie rods pass.

in assembling the articles to be dyed in the racks 22 the bottom pressure plate 34 is set in a jig 55 which consists of a base 56, and a pair of side rails 57 are secured to the upper face thereof and serve as a guide for the bottom pressure plate 34. The tie rods 35 are threaded into the lugs 50 at each corner of the bottom pressure plate 34 and extend vertically upward therefrom. Any type of fabric, woolen or the like may be substantially held between the patterns 40 in the rack 22 for the purpose of blocking off and dyeing certain colors on the material. However, in this instance, mens socks have been chosen to simplify the means used in the dyeing of the fabric or woolen material. The bottom pattern plate 38 is placed in position on the bottom pressure plate 34 and a pair of guide strips 58 are placed on this bottom plate 38 adjacent the side members 47 thereof. A flat plate 59 is then inserted in the portion of the sock which is to be blocked off during the 2nd or subsequent dyeing thereof. The first sock 60 to be assembled in the rack is placed on the pattern 40, the bottom plate 38 and a double intermediate plate 39 is then placed over this sock. A second sock is placed on the upper surface of the pattern 40 on the upper side of the double intermediate plate 39. The total number of socks and plates to be assembled in the rack are then placed one on top of another alternatively, as hereinbefore described, until the rack has been filled and the top plate 37 has been placed in position thereon. The top pressure plate 33 is then placed in position over the pattern plate 37 and the tie rods 35 which extend through the holes in the latter have suitable nuts 61 threaded thereon. Before the nuts 61 are tightened down on the tie rods 35, the guide strips 58 which. have facilitated the placing of the socks on the pattern plates are removed. The nuts 61 are then simply tightened down on the tie rods 35 thereby holding the assembly of pattern plates, pressure plates, and socks substantially in position therein. The toes of the socks are then folded inward toward the end of the rod and a needle 65 is then inserted through the hole 46 in the extension bar 45 on the top plate 37 and then threaded through the inwardly turned toes of the socks and then through the hole 46 in the extension bar 45 on the pattern plate 38 thereby preventing the toes of the socks from hanging loose and accordingly eliminating any chance of them catching on any part of the apparatus.

When the rack 22 is placed on the rack holder 16 the stud 54 extending downward from the bottom pressure plate extends through a hole in the rim of the rack holder 16, and the nut is threaded thereon. During the rotation of the rack holder 16 which is rotatably mounted on the tank 15, the racks 22 are repeatedly immersed in the dyeing fluid and the portions blocked ofi by the patterns 40 may remain the original color as dyed or the second, third, and fourth subsequent color as desired. It will be seen that the plate 59 which is placed within the socks could be removed and the outer faces of the patterns 40 could be pressed against one another so as to block ofi a color on each side of the sock. However if the aforesaid pair of patterns were not exactly in register with one another the configuration would not have a distinctive outline, therefore it has been deemed advisable in the case of dyeing mens socks that a plate be placed within the sock and a pattern plate pressed against each face of this plate with the textile being squeezed or pressed therebetween. With the use of a plate, within the sock, which bears against the inner side of the material, the outer faces of the pattern could be slightly out of alignment and yet each configuration dyed on the sock would be perfectly clear in outline.

It will be understood of course that the foregoing is an acceptable form of the invention and that any other form orapparatus being used in the same manner, and yet substantially difilerent detail worked out to achieve the same purpose, would come within the scope of this invention.

Another form of the invention in which the same principle is used is shown in the modification in Figure 11 in which each of the patterns 62 are placed within the socks 63, and flat plates 64 engage the outer surfaces of the socks. In this modification an apparatus having the same principles as that of the foregoing is used with the exception that the patterns 62 engage the inner surfaces of the socks rather than the outer surfaces thereof. In this instance, the patterns have passages 65a extending inward from the outer edges thereof to interior portions of the configuration. These passages 65a which are centrally located between the outer surface of the patterns and are parallel therewith and permit the easy access of the dye solution to parts of the configuration readily accessible from the outer edges of same.

When the socks or other material have been repeatedly immersed in the dyeing liquid for a sufiicient length of time the racks 22 are removed from the rack holder 16 and the nuts 61 on the tie rods 35 are removed to permit the pattern plates and socks to be taken from within the rack.

It will be further realized that the racks which hold the socks or other fabrics to be dyed could be stationary within the tank 15 rather than rotating therein and that this latter method would be equally efficient providing that there was a means provided for agitating the dye solution during the dyeing period.

It will also be seen that in the multi-color dyeing of materials that one color may be partially blocked oif to produce a third color, and this could be repeated to produce a fourth, and fifth color, or more, dependinag1 on the design of the configuration on the maten What we claim is:

1. In an apparatus for dyeing stockings a rack comprising a plurality of spaced parallel supporting plates, a pattern on the inner faces of the outside supporting plates and on each face of each of the intermediate supporting plates opposed to the pattern on an adjacent supporting plate, the rack being adapted to accommodate a stocking interposed between each pair of opposed plates, a separating plate adapted to be placed within said stocking parallel to and between said patterns and extending throughout the full area thereof, means for retaining said supporting plates in assembled relationship and means for compacting the supporting plates under pressure.

2. In an apparatus for dyeing stockings a rack comprising a plurality of spaced parallel supporting plates, 8. pattern on the inner faces of the outside supporting plates and on each face of each of the intermediate supporting plates opposed to the pattern on an adjacent supporting plate, the rack being adapted to accommodate a stocking interposed between each pair of opposed plates, a separating plate adapted to be placed within said stocking parallel to and between said patterns and extending throughout the full area thereof, grooves in said pattern spaced from the surface of said pattern which is in contact with the stocking to facilitate the circulation of the dyestufi, means for retaining said plates in assembled relationship and means for compacting said plates under pressure, and rotary dipping means for immersing said racks in the dyestuif, moving the racks through the solution and removing the racks from the solution after a limited period of time.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 in which said grooves are in the surface of said pattern which is juxtaposed to said supporting plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 124,428 Farrington Mar. 12, 1872 147,954 Maguire Feb. 24, 1874 853,627 Cuttle May 14, 1907 1,114,464 Giles Oct. 20, 1914 2,221,669 Brewin Nov. 12, 1940 2,277,404 Kannel Mar. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,856 Great Britain 1851 1,954 Great Britain 1853 

